Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
was invited to England in 1977 to teach Buddhist meditation and has since established three unique study programs and over 1000 meditation centers around the world
Our Teachers
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, Founder and First Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is a fully accomplished meditation master and internationally renowned teacher of Buddhism. Geshe-la, as he is affectionately called by his students, is primarily responsible for the worldwide revival of Kadampa Buddhism in our time.
Study and retreat
From the age of eight Geshe-la studied extensively in the great monastic universities of Tibet and earned the title Geshe, which literally means spiritual friend. Under the guidance of Trijang Rinpoche, his Spiritual Guide, he then spent the next eighteen years in meditation retreats in the Himalayas.
Teaching in the West
In 1977 he accepted an invitation to teach at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England, where he lived for many years giving teachings and guidance to an ever-growing group of disciples.
Geshe-la has continued to teach on Kadampa Buddhism in many countries around the world, and published a series of remarkable books on Buddhist thought and meditation.
He has established three unique study programs and over 1000 meditation centers around the world, trained qualified teachers and a flourishing ordained community, and created a project to build Buddhist temples in every major city in the world.
Teaching from example
In his teachings Geshe Kelsang emphasizes the importance of meditation and how to apply it in daily life, the need to be truly happy, and how to cultivate a good heart to help others, and he demonstrates these qualities perfectly in his own life.
This remarkable teacher inspires so many people from so many different countries because he teaches from example.
He is a humble Buddhist monk dedicated to helping people throughout the world find true happiness in their hearts.
General Spiritual Director
Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong
is the General Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU and Resident Teacher at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Center. Born in Northern Ireland, she has been studying under Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for over 30 years.
Ordained as a Buddhist nun, Gen-la Dekyong has devoted her life to helping others by teaching modern Buddhism – a heartfelt commitment she displays in both her inspirational teachings and her personal example.
She has a deep understanding of the problems we face in the modern world and how we can solve them by developing the capacity of our mind.
Gen-la is an internationally-renowned teacher who is held in high regard by thousands of people throughout the world for her practical and extremely accessible teachings.
Deputy Spiritual Director
Gen-la Kelsang Jampa
is the Deputy Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU) and Resident Teacher of International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon. He is an American Buddhist monk dedicated to helping people solve their daily problems by developing the capacity of their mind through the practice of meditation and modern Buddhism.
Gen-la Jampa has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for many years. Under Geshe-la’s guidance, he has taught at many centers and events internationally. Gen-la is well-loved for his clear and inspiring teachings, and his ability to touch people’s hearts through his sincerity and loving-kindness.
Western US National Spiritual Director
Gen Kelsang Rigpa
is an American Buddhist monk, the Western US National Spiritual Director of the NKT-IKBU, and the Resident Teacher at KMC Los Angeles. He is a close disciple of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, having received lineage blessings and oral transmissions directly from him.
Gen Rigpa shows the joy of living a spiritual life, and is an inspiring example of Buddhism in practice. Through his clear presentation of Buddha’s teachings, he is able to help students discover for themselves how to integrate Dharma into modern life to make it joyful and meaningful.
Our Resident Teacher
Kadam Keli Vaughan
is the Resident Teacher at Mahakankala Buddhist Center in Santa Barbara. Kadam Keli is a long-time student and disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. She presents Buddha’s teachings in a practical and accessible way, showing how to use meditation to transform our ordinary life into a meaningful life.
Local Teachers
Mindy Thomas
Mindy is a student on MKBC’s Foundation Program. She’s a mom, a wife, and business owner who uses the methods explained in Buddhism to improve her qualities of mind and her dedication to helping others.
David Clark
Dave is a student on our Foundation Program and is one of Venerable Geshe-la’s first disciples in Santa Barbara. His sincere wish to receive Medicine Guru teachings was fulfilled when Venerable Geshe-la granted the empowerment and teachings of Medicine Guru in 1996 at the Music Academy of the West.
